Susan Kaye (1)

Up until the last forty pages or so, this was a five star book. I loved reading about Wentworth and his interactions with his family. It was lovely meeting his brother, and I've always had a soft spot for Sophie.

This was a great continuation of the first novel, but I wasn't quite content about how things ended. I can't give away any details for fear of ruining the plot for others, but the novel just slid into a big puddle of awkward. It made me say to myself, "they would never do that," and the ending was a relief. All is forgiven considering how great the novel was overall.

I loved it.… (meer)

Since the first time I read Persuasion, I have preferred it over any other Austen. It's a quieter, gentler book than Pride and Prejudice, and my love for Captain Wentworth is very great indeed.

I'm leary of Austen spin-offs, though I've found a winner in Linda Berdoll's sequels to Pride and Prejudice. I've only read one Persuasion spin-off, Captain Wentworth's Diary by Amanda Grange, and though sweet, it wasn't very memorable.

Then I picked up the latest copy of Bookmarks (Jan/Feb 2012), and one of its feature articles was "The Regency in Modern Literature," and while I was happily checking off all the books I've read (PandP and Zombies, The Grand Sophy, etc.) I found this little gem, None But You, and like Amanda Grange's novel, it is from the viewpoint of Captain Wentworth.

After hemming and hawing for what seems like ten minutes or so I pulled out my trusty Nook and made my purchase. I'm glad I did. This novel is wonderful. Captain Wentworth was not oversentimentalized. He was fleshed out into this wonderful, complicated man with foils and foibles, uncertainties and indecisiveness.… (meer)

If you know Austen's Persuasion, then you know the story of Anne and Captain Wentworth, however you don't know it told through Wentworth's eyes. Until now.

Susan Kaye fills in the blanks of Wentworth's roller coaster of feelings on his reintroduction to Anne; does he love her or not and how does she feel. The book tells the tale of his journey upon arriving back on land, having to break the news to his friend of the death of his beloved fiance until the end of the group's visit to Bath- accident and all. Austen's characters are captured and re-worked yet stay true to their original telling!

I have read many re-makes, mostly of P&P but was thrilled to find another of Austen's classics re-told. Book one does not disappoint! Just ordered book two and can't wait to read! Any JA fan will enjoy this series.… (meer)